Vehicle-wheel.



J. B. BARNES.

VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLIOATION FILED PEB. 5, 190e.

Patented Deo. 8, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. /g-/ J. B. BARNES. VEHICLE WHEEL. APPLIOATION FILED mis. 5, 1908.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

"ILIIIL UNITED f sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JOSHUA B. BARNES, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. i8, IQ.

Application led February 5, 1908. Serial N0. 414,891.

To all whom it concern:

Be it known that I, JOSHUA B. BARNES, a

, citizen of the United States, residing at Fort and irregular yieldingand puncture of the tire when its resiliency is most needed.

My invention has for its ob'ect to provide a strong and durable wheel avin a solid rubber tire which with the felly is a apted to yield uniformly for maintaining the shape and efliciency of thewheel.

It consists in featuresof noveltyas hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, whereon,

Figure 1, 1s a side ielevation of my improved vehicle Wheel; Fig. 2, an edge View thereof with the tire in vertical cross section on line 2, 2, in Fig. 1 Fig. 3, a side elevation of the wheel with the tire and front side plate forming part of my invention removed; Fig. I

4, a vertical cross section to enlarged sca through the wheel (broken away) on line 2, 2,

in Fig. 1; Fi 5, a vertical section thereof through the p ane of the wheel on line` 5, 5, in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, ahorizontal section on line 6, 6, in Fig. 5, showing one of the side plate braces forming part of myinvention, and Fig. 7, a top plan view-0f part of the felly corresponding to that seen in Figs. 4, and 5.

Like letters and numerals of reference de note like parts in all the figures. f i a, represents Amy improved vehicle wheel having a circular metallic hub b `which is adapted tct the axle c in the usual manner and formed circumferentially with a circular flange 1 of suitable diameter integral therewith, the flange 1 being formed preferably, ,"fon the lnside for asitable distance from its circumference with' arecess 2 having its inner shoulder 2 concentric wit the hub b,and to the side of the flange 1 wi,l in the recess 2 is fixed by rivets y3 (screws orotherwise), the corresponding,portionwof a centrally perforated vertica y arrangedvv sheet metal (preferably steel) plate d having its inner circular. edge surrounding and bearing against the shoulder 2 of the recess 2 and its outer edge concentric with the hub b, the late d forming one side of the wheel a, wh` e around thehub b opposite to the flange 1 at a suitable. distance therefrom, is fitted a circular disk 1 having an inside recess 2 and shoulder 2 similar to the flange 1, and removably fixedl by studs 3 to lugs 4 cast on the hub b," and to the side of the disk 1 within its recess 2 is fixed by the rivets 3, a vertically arranged sheet metal plate d which is opposite and parallel, and similar in every respect to the plate d, and forms the other side of the wheel c, the side plates d and d being fixed to each other by a series of circular segmental braces e which are concentric with the hub b at suitable distances apart (preferably at four equal parts or quarters of the wheel c as shown), the braces e being fixed to the side plate dzby rivets 5 and to the side plate d by screws 6 whereby the latter with the disk 1 is removable when required, from the hub b for obtaining access to the internal parts.l It is here noted that the rivets vwhich secure the plates al and d to the flange 1 and disk 1 res ectively, are preferably countersunk and ush with the said plates on the inside for insuring an unobstructed surface thereof.

l f is the felly which is circumferentially larger than the side plates d, d', and preferably, composed of wood in preferably four, e u'alsegmental parts or sections 7 eld in ace by four tapered wood keys' 8 which are inserted, between the adjacent ends of the `segments 7 from the inside of the felly f and form a continuation thereof, the keys 8l being tenon'ed into corresponding mortises. in the said ends ofthe segments 7 and fixed to the latter thereat by circular wood keys 8 driven laterally therethrough and flush with the sides of the felly The felly f when assembled and in its nor.- mal position concentric with the hub b, is partway of its de th Within thespace be-v tween the side 'p ates d and d and adapted to slide laterally. against the innerfaces of the latter adjacent to their outer edges, the fellyj being normali held in place by preferably, four adjusta le 'spokes yconsisting respectively, of a rotatable olt 9 `shaped at its outer end and centered thereat .which is preferably, semi-sphericalorballin a preferably, conical recess or bearing 10 (see Figs. 4 and '5) whichis let preferably into the Acorrespondingkey 8 ofmthe fellyf on its concave side, the opposite 0r inner end portion of thevbolt 9 being screw-threaded andadaptedto be rotated 'through a correspondingly screw-threaded sleeve or bush 11 having an outer collar llwhioh is adapted to bear upon the outer end of a spiral spring 12 surrounding the sleeve 11, the inner end of the spring 12 being clear of the inner end of the bolt 9 and sleeve 11, and adapted to bear on a preferably, circular plate 13 having a'semi-spherical or ball-shaped projection 14 whichis centered ina preferably, conical re.

cess or bearing. 15 formed in the cicumference of the hub b opposite tothe bearing 10 in the felly f, and midway between the side plates d and d', the bolt 9 with its sleeve 11 and spring 12 being normally radial to the Wheel a but adapted to be moved in the bearings 10 and 15 to either side of its radial position in the plane of the wheel a obediently to the movements of the felly f, as hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Transversely through the bolt 9 adjacent to the outer end of the sleeve 11, are holes 9 for the insertion therethrough of a suitable tool for rotating the bolt 9, the` outer end of the sleeve 11 having a hexagon or other suitably shaped portion 11 adapted to be engaged by a Spanner for preventing the rotation of the sleeve 11 when rotating the bolt 9.

. Throughthe brace e corresponding to thevadjustable spoke g above described, is formed midway between the side plates d and d and radially to the hub b, a longitudinal slotway 16, through which that portion of the bolt \,9 on the outside of the hexagon top -11 of the sleeve 11, freely plays, the slotway 16 corresponding at the middle to the bolt 9 when in its normal osition and extending therefrom longitudina y to each side thereof for a suitable distance for permitting the vibration of the bolt 9 in the movements before mentioned of the felly f, the ends of the slotway 16 operating as limiting stops to this vibration, and its sides to prevent lateral displacement of the bolt 9. f

Surrounding the felly f is preferably, a solid rubber tire h which referably, projects beyond and overla s the ateral edge portion of the felly f, suitaible space o r clearance for the playfof the latter being left between the lower circular overlapped portion of the tire 71. and the circumferential edges of the side plates d and d. Embedded in the tire h are the usual metallic tubular rings or bonds 17 for reinforcing and maintaining the contour and stability of the tire h. I

f In operation, on' the application of ressure to any art of the circumference o the tire h and fe y j', the springs 12 in the half of the wheel aon the corresponding side of its dividing or neutral line for the time being, 65 are proportionately compressed and in the y other half expanded, the tire h and felly f at the same time being correspondingly moved to and fro (the latter between the side plates d and d) and the bolts 9 with their sleeves 11 and springs 12 vibrated accordingly to either side of their normal central posltion in the bearings 10 and 15 of the fellyf and hub b respectively, the said compression and expans1on of the springs 12 being automatically adjustable obediently to the multitudinous changing ositions of the tire h and felly f and there y maintaining the contour and efciency ofthe wheel a under all conditions. The tension of either or all the springs 12 may be increased or reduced as required, by holding the sleeve 11 and rotating the bolts 9 with their screw-threaded portions therethrou h in the re uired directlon for moving the co lars 11 of t e sleeves 11 to or from the circular plates 13 and thereby expanding or compressing the springs 12 accordingly as the case may be. f

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Ina vehicle wheel, the combination of a metallic hub, Atwo,opposite metallic lates fixed to and concentric with the hu and adapted to form the corresponding sides of the whee l, one of the said plates being removably fixed to the hub, a suitable felly circum ferentially larger than, and partly slidable between and against the said lates, a tire on the felly,`-a series of'adjustale spokesznormally radial to the vwheel between the said plates, and consisting respectively, of a rotatable bolt having its outer end centered inl the felly, and having a screw-threaded portion, a sleeve surrounding the bolt and screw-threaded internally for enga ement with the said portion, a collar'on the s eeve, a spring surrounding the sleeve and engaged at one end by the said collar, and aplate centered in the hub and adapted to engage the othe'i` end of the spring, substantially as described and for the, urpose set forth.

2. In a ve 'cle wheel, the combination of a metallic hub, two opposite metallicA lates fixed to and concentric with the hub) and adapted to form the corresponding sides of the wheel, one of the said plates being removably fixed to the hub, means for seeming the said lates to each other, a suitable felly circu erentially larger than, and partly slidable between and against the said lates, a

i tire on the felly, a series of adjustab e spokes normally radial to the wheel between the said plates, and consisting respectively, of a ro-l tatable bolt having its outer end centered in the felly, and having a screw-threaded portion, a sleeve surrounding the bolt and screw-threaded internall for enga ement with the said portion, a co ar on the s eeve, a

spring surrounding the sleeve and engaged l name to this specification in the presence of at 01119 fnd) by (theaid (311er, a, plate rienteled two subscribing Witnesses. nteuanaate toenaeteoter Y end of the spring, ald means fr imiting the JOSHUA B BARNES' 5 vbratory and lateral movements of the said Witnesses:

bolt, substentially as described. W. W. SHRYOCK,

In testimony whereof I have signed .my FLORENCE E. MERz. 

